A NOVICE jewellery designer has said she is "truly honoured" to create a brooch for the First Minister to wear at COP26.

Student Aileen Dickie Adams made the piece from sustainable material, including Fairtrade gold, and based the design on the Corryvreckan whirlpool near Jura.

Nicola Sturgeon said she would wear the piece with pride at the Glasgow climate summit.

Glasgow Times: Nicola Sturgeon with student jewellery designer Aileen Dickie-Adams Picture: Wattie Cheung

Aileen, who also won a major prize at the 2020 British Art Medal Society Student Awards, said: "I am truly honoured to have my design chosen as the winner by the First Minister, and am beyond excited to take my 3D computer design through to actual creation.

"Projects like this competition encourage us as student designers/makers to seriously consider the impact that our creations can have on the world around us, not just through the materials we use but also the message that our work can convey.

"Thanks to the support of the competition sponsors I have had access to ethically-sourced materials with which to produce the final piece, and have gained more knowledge in the process on how the materials we work with impact upon our environment, people and the world at large.

"To know that my final piece will be worn by the First Minister on a global stage is rather overwhelming and makes me immensely proud."

The college challenged HND jewellery students to design a brooch for the First Minister that would highlight the issue of rising sea levels due to climate change.

Ms Sturgeon selected Aileen’s design and was presented with the brooch during a visit to the college’s Riverside campus to mark the official opening of the International Maritime Hub for COP26.

Glasgow Times: Nicola Sturgeon with student jewellery designer Aileen Dickie-Adams Picture: Wattie Cheung

On receiving the brooch, the First Minister thanked Aileen and said she would wear it with enormous pride.

Lisa McGovern, Curriculum Head of Craft & Design at City of Glasgow College, said: "Aileen’s stunning design captured both theme and spirit perfectly.

"Chosen by the First Minister, we are looking forward to seeing her wearing it during COP26, giving it a global audience and hopefully helping to raise awareness of the critical issues surrounding climate change.”

The brooch was 3D printed in plant based resin then cast in recycled silver, courtesy of Vipa Designs Ltd.

Under the expert mentoring of tutor Maciek Sandowski Aileen finished the piece using an ancient Japanese technique, Keum Boo, to inlay Fairtrade gold, provided by Scottish Fair Trade Forum, CETS (Co-operative Education Trust Scotland) and City of Glasgow College.